5 days in Adelaide, Australia- 5/17- 5/21/2024

Day 5-Grey-headed flying foxes/Dinner-5/21/2024

We came across the grey-headed flying fox colony that roosts near the Adelaide Botanic Park and River Torrens. They’re the largest bat species in Australia, with a wingspan of up 3 feet. They get their name from the silvery-grey fur on their heads and the reddish-brown collar around their neck.

This colony settled in Botanic Park (next to the Adelaide Botanic Garden) around 2010, after moving from Morialta and other sites.

They roost high in the fig and eucalyptus trees, forming large hanging clusters, sometimes tens of thousands during summer.

During the day they hang upside down, wrapped in their wings to keep warm or shaded and at dusk, they take off in great waves to feed across the city and hills.

Here you can really see they are wrapped in their wings to keep warm.

The Adelaide population is part of a nationally protected species, as grey-headed flying foxes are listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss and climate impacts.

These bats are crucial pollinators for many native flowering plants,  especially eucalyptus, melaleuca, and banksia, some of which bloom at night and rely entirely on them. They’re often called “night-time gardeners” for this reason.

Because the colony is so large, it’s carefully managed by the Department for Environment and Water to balance bat welfare with tree health and nearby park use.

Within the camp, they constantly chatter and squabble, especially during the day when they jostle for space or interact with neighbors. Their calls range from soft squeaks to loud screeches. it can sound chaotic, but it’s actually a form of social communication that helps them maintain group bonds.

Grey-headed flying foxes are nocturnal foragers, they leave their roosts just after sunset and travel up to 31 miles in a single night to find food.  They feed mainly on Eucalyptus blossoms (nectar and pollen), native fruits and figs, and while feeding, they spread pollen between trees, a process that’s essential for forest regeneration.

Because they rely on flowering native forests, flying foxes are vulnerable to Habitat loss (deforestation and urban development), extreme heat events, which can cause mass deaths, human conflict, especially in fruit-growing regions.

Despite this, they’re protected species, and many people in Adelaide see them as an important part of the city’s natural identity,  a sign of how urban and wild life can coexist.

As the sun starts to dip and the light turns golden, the whole colony begins to stir.  What was a quiet tangle of dark shapes hanging upside down suddenly comes alive, thousands of wings rustle, calls grow louder, and a low hum fills the air.

During the late afternoon, when the sun starts setting, you’ll see them take flight in huge swirling flocks, one of Adelaide’s most spectacular natural sights.

Then, just as the sun is setting, the first few take off, powerful, slow wing beats lifting them high above the trees.
Within minutes, hundreds more follow. The air fills with movement, silhouettes against the fading sky. It’s an incredible sight, a dark ribbon of bats streaming out toward the horizon.

Watching the fly-out feels almost like witnessing a migration, there’s rhythm and purpose in it.
Even on cloudy nights, their silhouettes are striking against the sky,  a reminder of the wild still woven into the heart of Adelaide.

Afterwards, We are now headed to dinner with Anne from Arizona, and Lisa.  We met both of them during our 5 day tour in Tasmania

Tonight we are celebrating Anne's 21st Birthday.  Lisa found it out and suggested we get together to celebrate the special occasion together.

Singing Happy Birthday to Anne.

We are very glad to celebrate the special occasion together at Boca and grill.

It was such a fun evening, full of laughter, and the food was great too.

Our time in Adelaide was a lovely blend of city life and natural beauty. Downtown Adelaide, where wide boulevards are shaded by plane trees and graceful sandstone buildings stand beside modern glass towers. The city feels calm yet full of life, with cafés spilling onto the sidewalks and the parklands never far away. Around Victoria Square and Rundle Mall, fountains, street art, and arcades bring a quiet charm to the heart of the city. We then explored the Adelaide Botanic Garden, where golden autumn leaves contrasted beautifully with deep green trees.

A day trip to Kangaroo Island brought moments of wild wonder, playful seals at Seal Bay, a fierce battle between two males, the rugged cliffs of Admirals Arch, and sightings of Kangaroos, dingoes and koalas.

Back in Adelaide, we watched flying foxes rise at dusk, and the evening ended with dinner with Anne and Lisa to celebrate Anne’s 21st birthday .  It was such a joyful reunion with friends from our Tasmania tour.

NEXT... Perth